IPL 2026 Likely to Be Played Across 18 Venues as BCCI Awaits Election Dates
A total of 18 venues in India are expected to host matches in the IPL 2026. According to a report in Dainik Jagran on Wednesday (January 21), Chennai, Delhi, Lucknow, Mumbai (Wankhede Stadium), Kolkata, Ahmedabad, New Chandigarh, Hyderabad, Dharamshala, Visakhapatnam, Guwahati, Jaipur, Bengaluru, Pune, Raipur, Ranchi, Navi Mumbai (DY Patil Stadium), and Thiruvananthapuram are the 18 venues that are expected to host matches of the IPL 2026.
Of the 18 proposed venues, 13, Chennai, Delhi, Lucknow, Mumbai (Wankhede Stadium), Kolkata, Ahmedabad, New Chandigarh, Hyderabad, Dharamshala, Visakhapatnam, Guwahati, Jaipur, and Bengaluru, have already staged matches in the IPL 2025. In the midst of the uncertainty surrounding the home matches of Rajasthan Royals in Jaipur and RCB in Bengaluru, Pune, Raipur, and Navi Mumbai have been shortlisted, while due to the state assembly elections in Tamil Nadu, the home matches of Chennai Super Kings are expected to be held in Ranchi and Thiruvananthapuram.
IPL 2026 Likely to Be Played Across 18 Venues as BCCI Awaits Election Dates
According to an IANS report, a BCCI official said that the schedule for the IPL 2026 is being drawn up, but the dates will be announced only after the Election Commission announces the election dates for Tamil Nadu, Assam, and West Bengal.
“We are working on the IPL schedule, but we are still awaiting the government’s announcement of the election dates. Once those dates are confirmed, we will be able to draw up a schedule that does not disrupt the election process or clash with matches in the poll-bound states, ensuring smooth conduct of both," a BCCI source told IANS.
The source has also revealed that the BCCI has given RCB and RR a week to decide on their home grounds for the IPL 2026. It has been reported in the past that RCB will host five home matches in Navi Mumbai and two in Raipur, while Rajasthan Royals will host their home matches of IPL 2026 at MCA Stadium in Pune.
“As far as the home venues of RCB and RR are concerned, we have asked the franchises to take a final call and inform us within a week. Once the teams finalise their venues, we will prepare the schedule accordingly. So, at this stage, we are waiting for the teams’ decisions as well as the announcement of the election dates," the source added.
